Quote:
Originally Posted by AltaGuy
Think the Russians are going to try to negotiate out of this soon before they either kill Zelensky or destroy completely Ukrainian cities. They probably won't ask for much: a promise that Ukraine doesn't join NATO and some fictitious promise about ridding Ukraine of neo-nazis.
As much as I'd love to see a harsh punishment meted out on Russia and Putin, saving tens of thousands of Ukrainian lives is more important.
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This is still my view, but TBH I'm not so sure anymore. I honestly thought that after the first set of negotiations they would land there. Russia had made their point, was advancing on Kyiv, and was the perfect time to be seen as "sparing" additional death/destruction. Ceasefire/peace contingent on Donbas nations recognition and formal guarantees around EU and NATO membership (latter being the more important part). I would imagine at that point that Ukrainians would have accepted at least the NATO/EU pieces, so still don't get what Putin is going for long term.
I honestly have no idea what the end game here is. Don't see it ending well for either country right now, but at least its clear a full blown occupation of Ukraine long term won't happen.